10 research outputs found
Does Scientific Progress Consist in Increasing Knowledge or Understanding?
Bird argues that scientific progress consists in increasing knowledge. DellsĂ©n objects that increasing knowledge is neither necessary nor sufficient for scientific progress, and argues that scientific progress rather consists in increasing understanding. DellsĂ©n also contends that unlike Birdâs view, his view can account for the scientific practices of using idealizations and of choosing simple theories over complex ones. I argue that DellsĂ©nâs criticisms against Birdâs view fail, and that increasing understanding cannot account for scientific progress, if acceptance, as opposed to belief, is required for scientific understanding